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High rivers bring more rescues

After a lot of rain, first responders say high rivers and current are a concern.

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Updated: 6:38 PM EDT Jul 4, 2013

High rivers bring more rescues

After a lot of rain, first responders say high rivers and current are a concern.

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Updated: 6:38 PM EDT Jul 4, 2013

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WEBVTT A STRONG CURRENT ON THE MERRIMACK WHETHER REVERT -- ON THE MERRIMACK RIVER PUT SEVERAL PEOPLE IN DANGER. FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL RISK USE IN THE QUEEN CITY. -- SEVERAL RESCUES IN THE QUEEN CITY. IF YOU GO OUT ON THE RIVER, YOU NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL. BUT GO LIVE NOW ALONG THE MERRIMACK RIVER FOR MORE ON OUR TOP STORY. TODAY, THE MERRIMACK RIVER IS FLOWING AT 16,000 CUBIC FEET FOR SECOND. YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS VERY HIGH. THAT A DEER IS ABOUT 4000 HIGHER THAN NORMAL FOR A FOURTH OF JULY. COMBINE THAT WITH SWELTERING HEAT AND THE DAY OFF AND YOU HAVE A RISKY ATTRACTION THAT HAS MADE FOR SOME CLOSE CALLS TODAY. THE UNSEASONABLY HARDCHARGING MERRIMACK IS KEEPING MANCHESTER FIREFIGHTERS BUSY. THEY ASSISTED THE GROUP OF KAYAKERS WHOSE VESSELS OVERTURNED IN THE RIVER. ASK HE HIT ONE OF THOSE BIG WAYS AND CAME OVER THE TOP AND FILLED IT WITH WATER. AS HEAVY AS A CURRENT IS, FIREFIGHTERS SAY CONDITIONS ARE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS ABOVE THE DAM. CREWS WERE HELPING TO SECURE A PRIVATE TALK ON RIVERFRONT DRIVE WHEN THEY SAW A POWERBOAT AND WAKE BOARDER HEADING FOR THE BULLIES AND A POINT OF NO RETURN. WE WERE YELLING AT THE SURE TO PUT THE WAKE BOARDER IN THE BOAT. THEY TOOK AS MUCH TIME AS THEY COULD AND WHAT WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT IS ANY KIND OF MECHANICAL FAILURE ON THAT BOAT, THEY WERE GOING OVER THE DAM. THE WAKE BOARDER MADE IT BACK INTO THE BOAT AFTER A HARROWING STRUGGLE AGAINST THE CURRENT. WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH. WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT THE GENTLEMAN WAS GOING TO DROWN. FIREFIGHTERS ARE ASKING VOTERS TO AVOID THE DAM, GOING NO FURTHER DOWN THE RIVER AND THEN THE INTERVALE COUNTRY CLUB. THIS HIGH WATER IS VERY ATTRACTED TO KAYAKERS BUT ALSO VERY UNFORGIVING. WE ARE HEARING OF A HANDFUL OF OTHER RESCUES AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING ONE IN CONCORD.

High rivers bring more rescues

After a lot of rain, first responders say high rivers and current are a concern.